Council engaged Manly Hydraulics Laboratory to draft the design requirements for terminal protection works at Wamberal Beach to address coastal erosion – which will be placed on public exhibition at yourvoiceourcoast.com from 29 June 2022 to 27 July 2022. 

The Wamberal Beach Terminal Protection Structure Engineering Design Requirements address key criteria such as engineering, landscaping, environmental and maintenance requirements of property owners.

Central Coast Council Director Environment and Planning, Alice Howe said this milestone follows on from the completion of Wamberal Beach Terminal Protection and Sand Nourishment Investigation project, which identified preferred designs for the protection works.

“The review of expert technical studies, extensive community consultation and consideration of Council's role in relation to coastal erosion led to the identification of specific criteria for the preferred seawall design,” Dr Howe said.

“These criteria state that the infrastructure is to be located as far landward as possible (to reduce interaction with coastal processes and maximise beach width), that the asset is to be located wholly on private property where possible, and constructed, owned and maintained by property owners, the seawall is to have the narrowest footprint (to reduce erosion/beach encroachment), and that the design is to have the least requirement for sand nourishment (both upfront and ongoing).

“The draft Design Requirements outline engineering specifications and details such as the minimum footprint, length of construction, material selection, landscaping, and maintenance.

“These requirements reflect what the community told us was important in feedback received throughout the three phases of community consultation conducted over the past two years.”

Council Administrator, Rik Hart said there are a number properties along Wamberal Beach foreshore that are impacted by beach erosion which need permanent solutions.

“Property owners are able to seek development consent to undertake work to protect their assets, however, works must not negatively impact beach access, public amenity, neighbouring properties and the health of our coastlines,” Mr Hart said. 

“Council is performing its regulatory function as a Local Government to develop planning controls which will enable Wamberal foreshore property owners to undertake approved development to protect their assets whilst the beach public amenity and environment is protected appropriately. 

“Community consultation has been an integral part of the process to identify long-term solutions to this issue and I encourage ongoing community participation now that the draft requirements are on public exhibition.

“The community will continue to have opportunities to provide comment before any work is undertaken. Any development application for a section of seawall at Wamberal Beach will be placed on public exhibition, providing the public with opportunity to comment on the detailed design drawings, environmental impact assessments, construction programs and maintenance plans.”

The draft Wamberal Beach Terminal Protection Structure Engineering Design Requirements include:

1. Guidelines for preferred concept design: alignment of seawall, concept design and alignment drawings, site specific geotechnical requirements and shadow modelling design criteria, including guidelines for design life including future modifications.
2. List of relevant legislation.
3. Guidelines for contamination assessment and remediation and reuse of removed material. 
4. Guidelines for terminal end controls during and post construction, beach access points and beach safety during construction and other environmental aspects.
5. Guidelines for construction impacts.
6. Guidelines for construction schedule.
7. Guidelines for landscaping and aesthetics.
8. Guidelines for certification.
9. Guidelines for seawall maintenance and ongoing responsibility and security.

Following this public exhibition period, the final Design Requirements will be presented to Council for adoption and then used in conjunction with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, Coastal Management Act 2016 and Resilience and Hazards SEPP 2021 during development application assessments.

Have your say on the draft Wamberal Beach Terminal Protection Structure Engineering Design Requirements between 29 June 2022 and 27 July 2022 at yourvoiceourcoast.com  

The community can register to attend drop-in information sessions (virtually) to discuss the design requirements with project staff. 

Further information, FAQs, technical studies and consultation reports from the Wamberal Beach Terminal Protection and Sand Nourishment Investigation project, are also available online at yourvoiceourcoast.com  

ENDS